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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Am I completely crazy or AIBU getting rid of Alexa?

317 replies

Konicek007 · 26/01/2020 09:45

Hello, call me paranoid but..would like some opinions.
We have Alexa Echo dot in the living room, purely because of the music, we not use it for anything else. We love it playing music through it. Hi
Yesterday me and my daughter ( 8 yrs) were having a conversation , her telling me about her horse toy she not longer wants, saying something in lines she doesn’t want to play with it anymore as she is too big now, to get rid of it etc..
Suddenly Alexa buttered in saying something like You are being warn and reported etc. We haven’t heard the message clear as we also had a music playing from radio.
None of us used the woke up word Alexa for her to respond, plus the music was playing in background but we did heard her saying about warning us..
Now I heard stories about these speakers are actually spying on your home but I never believed it.
My friend husband works for well know computer company as IT developer and he always kept saying to avoid these things in our home.
Now I’m actually paranoid and thinking to get rid of Alexa.
Your opinions please. ( don’t laugh)

OP posts:
getupnow · 26/01/2020 12:33

I meant 20 billion dollars

BeyondMyWits · 26/01/2020 12:35

Are people so deluded and self important to believe Amazon to gives a shit shit about them or their issues

of course Amazon does not care, but they can sell your data to someone else who can use it. It is all about building pictures, targetting advertising, slewing opinion one way or the other.

If the big guns in charge of Amazon/Google decide that Trump (for instance - only using for instances - nothing legally liable!) should be voted in as president, then can you not see that they can influence people through targetted ads.

You talk about a book, then when you log on to buy it, the "people who bought this also bought" list contains Trump's Biography. You talk about going on holiday - then when you look at holidays - top of the list is a Trump hotel. You view a news page, on the little thumbnail stories on the right is a tale of Melania visiting a school

It is a LOT more insidious than just listening.

Newmetoday · 26/01/2020 12:41

Laughing at the paranoia. This stuff is the future. It’s everywhere right now as well. If you’ve got technology of any kind it’ll be harvesting data. I don’t give a fuck. What is it that people are afraid of? Getting an advert for Argos now and again?

adaline · 26/01/2020 12:41

So if Amazon is listening, hears all about you and your issues and illnesses and the like, what is their end game?

Firstly, they want to make money out of you. To target ads and promotions to your needs and wants. So originally it might be things as minor as cream for an infection, or the newest FIFA package for your son.

But they also don't keep that data to themselves. There's a reason websites want you to log in via Amazon/Facebook/Gmail - because it means all those companies can share the data they have on you, and sell it on to others.

It's the same as people buying those DNA kits from Ancestry and the likes - they're not for your benefit - they're trying to build a database of everyone's DNA and probably not for good reason. Once you've handed your information over it's out of your hands. They can sell it on, use it for whatever purpose they like - it's not "yours" anymore.

But for some reason, people will happily defend multibillion pound corporations because of course Amazon and Google have your best interests in mind Grin

adaline · 26/01/2020 12:42

What is it that people are afraid of? Getting an advert for Argos now and again?

Yeah, because that's all it is Hmm

UYScuti · 26/01/2020 12:43

high up positions in the tech world
Kundalini, yes and this is what we should pay attention to, the information that comes straight from the horses mouth!
The people in the know do not trust these device

Herringbone31 · 26/01/2020 12:45

Absolutely these devices are the easiest hack able systems in your house. For sure. I know this. I work in this field.

UYScuti · 26/01/2020 12:45

DNA kits from ancestry
Think of the profits they can make selling that data to insurance companies who will be able to study your genome, know what diseases you are prone to and adjust your insurance premium accordingly, or refuse to insure you at all

Konicek007 · 26/01/2020 12:48

So everyone I managed to find out what was it all..
I looked into wrong activity , we got two alexas.
It warned me: wait for it .. about a poor tune selection!
It said something responding to How are you Alexa- we never said that anyway.
We had a radio playing quite loud so I never heard clearly what Alexa said.. she meant it as joke apparently.. scared the crap ouf me!
Still I don’t get why she woken up and said this warning but now you all know.

OP posts:
BeyondMyWits · 26/01/2020 12:49

What is it that people are afraid of Getting an advert for Argos now and again

no, but what if the ONLY advert you get in the future is for Argos.

What if you want an I-phone, but the only adverts you ever get are for android. What if the adverts you get are more and more limited and take you down a narrower and narrower path towards what "they" want you to buy, and then suddenly it is the only thing you can buy?

Konicek007 · 26/01/2020 12:49

At least it was not any serious message like I though...pheeeewwww

OP posts:
MonkeyToesOfDoom · 26/01/2020 12:51

And next year Cyberdyne Systems introduce the first AI and we're all doomed.

It's all a bit Flat Earth and Paul McCartney to me. So enjoy your paranoia, meanwhile I welcome Alexa and hope she rules fairly and evenly. If she does manage to influence purchases, society and politics, all it proves is that people are sheep and easily led and shouldn't have any control any way.

Surplus2requirements · 26/01/2020 12:56

It seems a lot of people really don't get the point of data harvesting and profiling.

Cambridge Analytica is the tip of the iceberg

JuanSheetIsPlenty · 26/01/2020 13:01

So enjoy your paranoia, meanwhile I welcome Alexa and hope she rules fairly and evenly.

If she does manage to influence purchases, society and politics, all it proves is that people are sheep and easily led and shouldn't have any control any way.

The irony! Grin

adaline · 26/01/2020 13:01

If she does manage to influence purchases, society and politics, all it proves is that people are sheep and easily led and shouldn't have any control any way.

And yet you still think is Alexa is a good idea?

Have you read about the mass surveillance in China? People being punished for things like crossing the road in the wrong place? And being banned from using public transport because they don't have enough "points"?

"In Xinjiang and especially its capital city, Ürümqi, there are security checkpoints and identification stations almost everywhere.[90] People need to show their ID cards and have their faces scanned by cameras at a security station before entering a supermarket, a hotel, a train station, a highway station, or other public place."

"The Sesame Credit is designed such that those with good credit scores can live a more convenient life than others with low credits scores.For instance, people with high credit scores do not need to pay deposits when checking in at hotels and can obtain visas more quickly than others. On the other hand, people with low credit scores cannot easily eat in restaurants, register at hotels, purchase products, or travel freely.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass_surveillance_in_China#Social_credit_system

Sounds like a fab idea to me Hmm

MonkeyToesOfDoom · 26/01/2020 13:04

The irony!

I don't get irony, it's a very English thing.
Please explain it to me in the context of my post.

UYScuti · 26/01/2020 13:05

People are sheep and easily led
It's true that uninformed people can be led like sheep, but if we all understand what is going on it's much harder to dominate and control us

AnotherTroyforHertoBurn · 26/01/2020 13:07

Alexa add xyz to my shopping list,

Can't remember what it was but it bore no relation to what I said, so I said Alexa you are bloody useless and will never take over the world with your AI, she said I am sorry you feel that way. Grin

UYScuti · 26/01/2020 13:07

The aim of the Chinese surveillance state system is to enforce complete obedience upon the population, anyone with views that don't line up with the ruler can be easily identified and eliminated, we've all heard about the camps in China where they harvest organs from people without anaesthetic etc

Bezalelle · 26/01/2020 13:10

"we've all heard about the camps in China where they harvest organs from people without anaesthetic etc"

Lazy scare-mongering.

adaline · 26/01/2020 13:10

The aim of the Chinese surveillance state system is to enforce complete obedience upon the population, anyone with views that don't line up with the ruler can be easily identified and eliminated, we've all heard about the camps in China where they harvest organs from people without anaesthetic etc

It already happens in North Korea, now China as well. I have no doubt it also happens in other places.

It's exceptionally naive to think that companies like Amazon and Google are there to make to your life easier. They don't give two fucks about you. They want to make money, and if selling your data means they can do so, then great. Even better if that data has come to them willingly!

AnotherTroyforHertoBurn · 26/01/2020 13:10

She is also a frightful prude.

Alexa pay Lilly Allen Fuck You from Spotify.

Playing Lilly Allen beep you from Spotify.Grin

adaline · 26/01/2020 13:13

Lazy scare-mongering.

Did you read the link above?

There are parts of China where you cannot enter supermarkets or any public space such as shops or restaurants or public transport without being recognised on facial recognition software. There are parts of China that forbid you to use public transport or eat at restaurants if your social credit score isn't high enough.

It's not scare-mongering. It's true and it's happening right now. People just don't like to think that someone that makes their life easier could be so dangerous.

"In Xinjiang and especially its capital city, Ürümqi, there are security checkpoints and identification stations almost everywhere. People need to show their ID cards and have their faces scanned by cameras at a security station before entering a supermarket, a hotel, a train station, a highway station, or other public place. The ratio of police officers stationed in Xinjiang to population is higher than elsewhere. This strict enforcement of security checks is partly a response to the separatist movement in 2009 associated with Muslim Uyghurs. Additionally, the cameras on streets are denser there than elsewhere, numbering 40,000. The information collected by the cameras is matched with individual profiles, which include previously collected biometric data, such as DNA samples and voice samples. People are rated on a level of trustworthiness based on their profiles, which also takes into account their familial relations and social connections. These levels include "trustworthy," "average," and "untrustworthy."

"Xinjiang residents, especially those from the Uyghur ethnic group, are not allowed to practice certain religious acts. They are also more actively and strictly monitored by surveillance apps, voice printing, and facial recognition cameras. Since 2017, The government has set up re-education camps in Xinjiang for the local people to improve their compliance. People in the re-education camps are usually closely watched by guards and are not allowed to contact others outside the facilities, including family members and other close relations. They learn about Mandarin Chinese characters and the rules that they need to follow in those camps as well as outside once they leave."

DesLynamsMoustache · 26/01/2020 13:14

I'm Scottish so she won't be able to understand my idle chat anyway. I have to use my special Alexa voice to talk to her Grin

AutumnRose1 · 26/01/2020 13:16

OP - she warned you about poor tune selection?

sorry what does that mean please? I'm understanding it as "I don't like this song, why are you listening to it". And I'm thinking "Alexa, if I want your opinion, I'll ask for it" Grin